Teleostei (teleosts) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Etymology: Microthrissa: Grek, mikros = small + Greek, thrissa, -es = shad (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Regan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical; 10°N - 10°S
Africa: widely distributed in the Congo River basin (Ref. 28136, 47399), from the Lower Congo River near its estuary up to the Upper Lualaba River, but excluding the Luapula-Mweru (Ref. 188).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 93833)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 22; Vertebrae: 42 - 45. Diagnosis: Body slender, its depth about 20-24% of standard length; scutes strongly keeled, beginning under pectoral fin base, with 10-15 pre-pelvic and 8-11 post-pelvic scutes; snout rather blunt or acute; lower jaw not or slightly projecting, included in upper when mouth closed, with small teeth limited to anterior part; pre-maxillae with a single row of 24-42 small conical teeth directed inwards; maxilla slender, its blade more than 3 times as long as deep, upper edge quite strongly ridged; posterior supra-maxilla slender, spatulate, with distinct anterior shaft, shaft longer than blade; lower gillrakers 17-24 (Ref. 188, 47399). Also characterized by 26-35 scales in a longitudinal series and anal fin with 18-22 rays (Ref. 47399). It differs from Microthrissa moeruensis in having a distinctly blunter snout and less scales in longitudinal series (Ref. 188, 47399).
Found in rivers and lakes, apparently in both still and running water; seems to occur in rather acid waters (Ref. 188).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gourène, G. and G.G. Teugels, 1989. Révision systématique du genre Microthrissa Boulenger, 1902 des eaux douces africaines (Pisces, Clupeidae). Rev. Hydrobiol. Trop. 22(2):129-156. (Ref. 47399)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00871 (0.00415 - 0.01826), b=3.06 (2.89 - 3.23), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.41 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
